Resetting device for counters



Dec. 6, 1955 A. VAN VEEN RESETTING DEVICE FOR COUNTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1951 FIC5.4

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INVENTOR ANTON VAN VEEN ATTORN Y Dec. 6, 1955 VAN VEEN 2,726,040

RESETTING DEVICE FOR IOUNTERS Filed May 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ANTON VAN VEEN ATTO NEY United States Patent Gfiice 2,726,040 Patented Dec. 6, 1%55 RESETTIN G DEVICE FOR COUNTERS Anton Van Veen, Canton Center, Conn.

Continuation of application Serial No. 79,288, March 2, 1949, now Patent No. 2,572,784, dated October 23, 1951. This application May 8, 1951, Serial No. 225,145

10 Claims. (Cl. 235-144) This invention relates to a re-setting device for a tally or counter, particularly adapted for a small handy and usually manually operated counter having a plurality of rotatable digit Wheels positioned closely adjacent each other on the same axis.

Another object of importance or" the invention is to provide a simple digit wheel re-setting device for a manual or other form of counting device in the form of a central, preferably hollow, shaft on which the digit wheels are rotatably mounted and enabling the digit wheels to be promptly advanced to their zero or other predetermined indicating positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction enabling the parts of-the tally or counter to be readily assembled and retained in their assembled positrons.

And finally, it is an object of the invention to provide resilient curved means pressing individually against the periphery of the digit wheels to prevent accidental rotative movement of the wheels beyond its desired position and to resiliently advance the wheels to their proper rotative position at each actuation of the counter to properly align the numerals.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may include the features of construction, assembly and operation set forth in the following specification and illus' trated in the accompanying drawings.

in the accompanying drawings annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a simple hand tally having four closely adjacent digit wheels mounted on a common axis which may be reset to their zero position by rotation of the shaft on which they are individually rotatably mounted, but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

in the drawings:

Fig. l is an isometric view of a preferred form of tally in which the present invention is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the tally substantially as shown in Fig. 1, some of the parts being cut away to more clearly show their construction;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3, in Fig. 2

' Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and taken on the same plane with the parts shown in another operative position;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of a counter showing an alternate spring means for the casing cover and the reset spring panel for the digit wheels in another position;

Fig. dis a transverse view of one of the digit wheels showing a modified form of spring reset pawl;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of hollow mounting and re-set shaft for the digit wheels;

Fig. 8 is a detail cross-sectional view showing another construction of re-set and wheel supporting shaft;

Fig. 9 is a side view of one of the digit wheels, the View being taken from the opposite side of the Wheel shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the section being taken on the plane of line 99 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of an assembling and retaining means for the parts mounted on the digit wheel supporting and resetting shaft;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining means for the assembled parts on the re-set shaft shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. I2 is a similar view of an alternate form of retaining means for parts on the reset shaft;

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view of a hollow re-set shaft having a modified form of retaining means for the retaining flange;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of an alternate form of digit wheel retaining spring, and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary isometric view of another modified form of re-set shaft.

in the above mentioned drawings there has been shown but one complete embodiment of the invention and several alternate forms of some of the details which are now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

This application is a continuation in part of my Patent No. 2,572,784 granted October 23, 1951.

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include the following principal'parts: First, a casing of box-lile or rectangular form, preferably made up of sheet material such metal, plastic, or other rigid material cast or otherwise formed into the desired shape; second, an actuating member, preferably the top of the box or casing, pivotally supported adjacent one edge so that this top or cover member may be actuated manually or mechanically to operate the counter; third, a series of digit wheels mounted in side by side relation on the same axis and rotatably mounted on a common axis within the easing; fourth, a cast or stamped arm or lever pivotally mounted adjacent the free end of the pivotally mounted member and having projections of progressively varying length adapted to engage notches formed in peripheral portions of the digit wheels; fifth, a spring or springs having their ends resiliently engaging the under surface of the cover member and a part of the casing so that the cover will normally be held in its upper position; sixth, individual springs housed within each digit wheel one end of each of which forms a resilient resetting pawl; and seventh, a re-set shaft rotatably mounting the digit wheels and having a slot or openings or so formed therein to provide an abutment against which the end of each housed spring forming the reset pawl may engage when the counter is being re-set to its Zero or other indicating position.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawings and first to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a box-like casing ll) preferably made of sheet or moulded material. Pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 11 extending through the casing 10 in a direction parallel to the bottom surface and adjacent the rear wall or surface of the casing 19 is a cover member 12. Springs is normally hold the cover 12 toward its open position. Apertures 16 are provided in a portion of the cover member 12 through which one numeral on each of the surfaces of the digit wheels 13 may be observed. The casing lit) as shown in the figures of the drawing includes four side or wall portions to which a bottom plate 2.0 may be formed integrally therewith or soldered or otherwise permanently secured thereto.

Within the casing ill and preferably mounted on an axis parallel to the axis about which the cover member 12 tilts is a shaft 22, hollow as shown, and providing a mounting or bearing on which the digit wheels 18 may rotate. This shaft 22 also serves as the means, presently to be described and forming the subject matter of this invention, to re-set the digit Wheels 18 to their zero positions. The digit wheels 18 of which there may be any desired number are identical and have numerals from to 9 printed or otherwise formed equally spaced on their peripheries. Each wheel 18 also has ten equally spaced notches 24 in its periphery, one of which in each wheel is much deeper than the other nine. The position of the deep notch 26 will be such relative to the numerals on the wheel that the actuating lever 28 will enter the deeper notch when the nine is visible through its viewing apertures 16 in the cover 12. As this part of the device is described and claimed in the patent referred to above and forms no part of the present invention, further description of this part of the counter is not thought to be necessary.

To place a frictional drag on the digit wheels 1.8 use is made, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the small light springs 14. The springs 14 have helical portions surrounding tubes such as 15 on the shafts 11 for supporting the cover 12. One end of each spring 14 bears against the under surface of the cover 12 and the opposite end of each spring bears individually against the periphery of a digit wheel 18 so that each digit wheel is resiliently engaged by one of the springs. Figs. 3 and 4 show springs 14 in their two extreme positions. The ends of the springs 14 bearing against the wheels 18 are sufiiciently long to rest between one edge of a notch 24 with an intermediate portion of the spring riding over the wheel surface between the projections. There is thus a light pressure always exerted against each wheel 18 by one of the cover lifting springs 14. This pressure prevents inadvertent movement of the wheels 18 and limits movement of the wheels to that imparted to them by movement of the operating arm 28 so that with each actuation of the cover 12 the wheels 18 will be moved to successive digit disclosing positions. The springs 14 also prevent retrograde movement of the wheels 18 for the reason that the spring ends bear against an edge of the projections on wheels 18 between adjacent depressions 24. Forward movement of a wheel 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow will slightly and resiliently raise the lower arm of the spring and, when the movement of the wheel is completed, the spring 14 will again drop into an adjacent groove. This assures each wheel 18 being moved accurately to its successive indexed position to properly align the numerals on each wheel In addition to applying light frictional pressure against the wheels 18 during movement of the wheels and preventing retrograde movement of the wheels by the ends of the springs abutting against a side surface of a projection between Lhe notches 24, the wheels are always aligned properly relative to their viewing apertures.

Housed in each wheel 18 within an annular recess on one side is a spring 40, an intermediate helical portion of which fits around a pin 42 preferably formed as an integral portion of the wheel. The longer and arcuate end of each spring 40 fits within and adjacent the rim portion of the wheel 18 and applies pressure to urge the opposite shorter end which forms the resilient resetting pawl toward the central portion of the wheel. A portion of one side of the hub portion of each wheel 18 is cut away as shown at 45, so that the spring ends 44 forming the resetting pawls ride directly on the supporting hollow shaft 22 for the wheels 18 and exert a light pressure against the shaft. Inward movement of the spring ends 44 is limited by this cut away portion 45 of the wheel hub so that the end can move radially inward to abut against a side of the slot or openings in the shaft 22 but, due to the form of the cut away portion, cannot enter the tubular opening through the shaft which would interfere with the assembling of the device and with resetting the wheels 18 to zero position.

The central supporting shaft 22 is rotatably mounted within opposite side walls of the casing 16 and is employed, in addition to rotatably supporting the wheels 18 on a single axis, to reset the digit wheels 18 to their zero positions by manual rotation thereof. For this purpose the shaft 22 may be provided at spaced positions with openings 46 as seen in Fig. 2, or with an elongated slot 46a, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. These openings 46, if the shaft 22 is not slotted, are so positioned that each is in alignment with one of the springs 49 within the wheels 18 so that an end 44 of each of the springs 40 may enter an opening 46 or enter the elongated slot when the shaft 22 is rotated to bring the slot or openings below the spring ends 44. During the counting operation the springs 40 ride over the openings or slot 46 with rotation of the wheels 18 in the direction shown so that there is no interference with the step by step operation of the wheels 13. By rotation of the supporting shaft 22 manually by its extended end or by means inserted within its central opening in the direction indicated by the arrow the individual spring ends 44 abut against an end surface of an opening or the slot 46 and continued rotation of the shaft 22 then rotates the wheels 18. Alternate forms of hollow re-setting shafts presently to be described are shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Continued rotation of the shaft 22 will pick up and rotate the different wheels 18 until all are being rotated with the shaft. As the openings or slot 46 in the shaft 22 are longitudinally disposed and the numerals on the digit wheels are in identical relation to the pins 42 and the spring ends 44, the rotation of the shaft 22 may be stopped with all wheels 18 having their zeros directly below the apertures 16 in the cover 12 or below the elongated viewing opening 17.

Fig. 7 shows an alternate form of wheel supporting shaft 23 in which the shaft is slitted in the portion over which the wheels 18 operate and one edge of the slit 25 is bent slightly inwardly to form an elongated abutment against which the spring end 44 engages during the resetting of the wheels 18. Also the inwardly bent portion 25 of this hollow shaft 23 forms a ledge against which the spring end 44 may rest. With the shaft 23 slitted as shown the spring end 44 is prevented from moving radially inward to interfere with the assembly of the parts, or with the inserting of a re-setting tool within the shaft.

Fig. 8 shows another modified form of hollow re-set shaft in that the tube 66 is slitted longitudinally and one edge 68 bent inwardly at right angles to form an abutment against which the end of the spring pawl 44 engages during the re-setting operation. To effect the re-setting of the wheels 18 a tool of circular cross-section may be inserted within the tube 66. Extending longitudinally of the tool 70 is an elongated slot within which the bent edge 68 of tube 66 may enter.

To retain the shaft 22 in assembled position the one means may comprise a wire staple 48 as shown in Fig. 10 positioned transversely through the shaft 22, there being apertures formed therein for that purpose. These apertures are located so that the staple will be disposed between one of the digit wheels 18 and a spacer collar 21 located adjacent the inner surface of the casing 10.

By means of the staple a non-circular section of the opening within the hollow shaft is formed into which a square or other form of tool 52 may be inserted to rotate the shaft for re-setting the wheels 18 to their zero positions. If desired, however, the end of shaft 22 may be extended as shown in Fig. 2 so that the shaft may be totated manually by grasping its knurled end.

As an alternate manner of retaining the parts assembled on the shaft 22 and for retaining the shaft in position within the casing 10 transverse opposed slots 54 may be milled in the shaft 22 and a slotted washer 56 snapped in position on the shaft. This washer will be positioned in the same longitudinal position on the shaft 22 as the staple 48 so that the washer will lie between one of the wheels 18 and a spacer 21.

A third method of retaining the parts on the re-setting shaft 22 is to indent opposite portions as shown in section in Fig. 13, these dented portions '27 being located longitudinally similarly to the slots 54. Preferably the indented portions 27 are used in the form of resetting shaft shown at 23 in Fig. '13 as the slitting of the shaft audits indenting may be done in a single operation. This .is advantageous for the reason that the angular relationship be tween the slitted and indented parts will always be the same. With any group of counters used in an aligned series, a re-setting tool such as a bar 52 may therefore extend from end to end of the series within each of their hollow shafts.

In Fig. is shown a modified form of spring construction for actuating the cover 12 in one direction and resiliently pressing against the periphery of the digit wheels 18. One or more springs 50 are provided having their central helical portion wrapped about a transverse shaft similar to shaft 11 and tube 15 within the cover. One .end of spring or springs 50 bears against the inner surface of the rear wall of the casing 10. The other end bears against the inner surface of the cover 12. For resiliently bearing against the peripheries of the digit wheels 18 are provided separate and independent springs 52 having their intermediate helical portions wrapped about a transverse shaft within the casing and parallel to the axis of the wheels 18. One end of each of these springs 52 bears against the periphery of a digit wheel 18, the opposite ends bearing against the rear wall of the casing 10.

Fig. 14 shows another form of spring generally similar to spring 14, one end of which engages the under surface of the cover 12 and its coiled mid-portion surrounds the shaft 11 and tube 15. The opposite end of this spring 64, as shown in this figure, rides over the projections formed on the notched digit wheels 18. With the spring end 64 in contact with adjacent projections the digit wheel will be retained against accidental rotation and in its proper rotative position relative to the viewing apertures for its numerals. As shown in this figure the portion of the spring riding on the periphery of the wheel 18 is curved so that the curved portion fits into the recesses between the projections on the wheels. With the spring portion 64 so formed the wheel when advanced partially by the operating lever 28 will be snapped the remainder of the way by the spring to bring the wheel 18 promptly and accurately into proper position. The possibility of the wheel accidentally over-running its indexed position is also eliminated.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified form of re-set spring pawl housed within each digit Wheel 18. These springs 61 have intermediate portions fitting over the lugs 42 and have arcuate portions 60 bearing at their ends against the outer cylindrical surface of the hubs of wheels 18 but acting similarly to the springs 40 to press the opposite end against the surface of the re-set shaft 22. The pawl end 62 of the springs 60, however, is different and extends about the hub portion of the wheel 18 in the opposite direction than pawl spring 44. At its end the pawl 62 has a hook portion which engages over the end of the slot or one of the apertures in the re-set shaft 22. During normal operation the hook end 62, with step by step rotative movement of the wheel 18, rides over the aper ture or slot in the reset shaft 22 but, with rotation of the re-set shaft, the hook end 62 drops into the slot or aperture and rotates the wheel 18 to its zero position.

In Fig. is shown a short end portion of a modified form of re-set shaft 72. This shaft as shown has oppositely disposed slots 74 milled in its wall in which may be placed a retaining snap washer 56 as shown in Fig. 12. Extending longitudinally along the entire length of the shaft 72 is a flat recessed portion 76. Against the side wall of this milled or otherwise formed surface the end of the resetting pawls may hear so that rotation of wheels mounted therein and means to the shaft 72 in the direction of the arrow will operate to reset the wheels 18 mounted thereon.

"I claim as my invention: 7

1. In a counter having a casing, a plurality of digit wheels mounted therein on a common axis and manual means to actuate said wheels individually step by step, a shaft rotatably supported Within said casing on which said wheels are mounted, springs pivotally mounted at .an intermediate portion within said wheels and having an end bearing against said shaft, said springs engaging abutments on said shaft when said shaft is rotated and simultaneously rotating said digit wheels.

2. In a counter having a casing, a plurality of digit actuate said wheels individually step by step, a shaft rotatably supported within said casing on which said wheels are mounted, springs housed within said wheels and having first ends bearing against said shaft, the opposite ends of said springs engaging a surface of said wheels and resiliently forcing the first ends of said springs toward the shaft.

3. in a counter housing .a casing, a plurality .of digit wheels mounted therein and means to actuate said wheels individually step by step, a shaft rotatably supported within said casing on which said wheels are mounted, springs housed within said wheels and having first ends bearing against said shaft, the opposite ends of said springs engaging the inner periphery of said wheels and resiliently forcing the first ends of said springs toward the shaft.

4. in a counter having a casing, wheels mounted therein and means to actuate said wheels individually step by step, a shaft rotatably supported within said casing on which said wheels are mounted, springs housed within said wheels and having first ends bearing against said shaft, the opposite ends of said springs engaging the outer cylindrical surface of the hubs of said wheels and resiliently forcing the first ends of said springs toward the shaft.

5. In a counter having a casing, wheels mounted therein and means to individually step by step, within said casing on which helical spring housed within each wheel and having an intermediate portion wrapped around a projection formed in said wheel, one end of each spring forming a pawl for re-setting said Wheel when said shaft is rotated and the other end of each spring engaging the inner periphery of a wheel and resiliently pressing the pawl end against said shaft, and said shaft having abutments against which said spring ends may engage when said shaft is rotated to re-set said Wheels.

6. A digit wheel for counters comprising a peripheral portion having notches spaced therein, a central hub portion through which a supporting shaft may extend, and a pawl spring pivotally mounted at an intermediate portion within said wheel, the pawl end being movable within a slotted portion of said hub to engage against the supporting shaft, the opposite end of said spring bearing against an internal surface of said wheel to form the resilient means for pressing said pawl end toward said shaft.

7. A counter comprising a casing, a plurality of digit Wheels therein, a transverse hollow shaft within the casing on which said digit wheels are rotatably mounted, and a slotted disk mounted non-rotatably on one end of said shaft within said casing, whereby said wheels are retained in assembled position on said shaft, and said shaft may be rotated by a tool insertable within said shaft.

8. A counter comprising a casing, a plurality of digit wheels therein, a transverse hollow shaft within the casing on which said digit wheels are rotatably mounted, and a slotted disk mounted non-rotatably on one end of said shaft within said casing, whereby said wheels are a plurality of digit a plurality of digit actuate said wheels a shaft rotatably supported said wheels are mounted, a

retained in assembled position on said shaft, and said shaft may be rotated by a tool attached to said shaft.

9. A counter comprising a casing, a plurality of digit wheels therein, a transverse hollow shaft within the casing on which said digit wheels are rotatably mounted, said shaft being slitted and provided on one end with a collar having a non-circular portion entering the slitted portions of the shaft and retaining said wheels in assembled positions on said shaft.

10. A counter comprising a casing, a plurality of digit wheels therein, a transverse hollow shaft Within the easing on which said digit wheels are rotatably mounted, and a wire staple secured adjacent one end of said shaft having its central portion and opposite ends extending outside said shaft to retain said wheels in axial position thereon, intermediate portions of said staple extending within the hollow shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 176,743 Garth et al. May 2, 1876 273,383 Palmer Mar. 6, 1883 '8 Peterson et al. June 16, Force et al Oct. 8, Dorchester Feb. 22, Whiting June 7, Pfaff May 16, El; May 26, White Oct. 12, Wood June 6, Wood July 17, Chase Oct. 16, Henderson Jan. 31, Spaunburg May 5, Nelson May 18, Hennessy Dec. 20, Wild Aug. 27, Studley 1. Apr. 22, Summerbell June 25, Young May 1, Van Veen Oct. 23,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 27, 

